Key to the Saskatchewan Party being re-elected three months from now is Premier Brad Wall ensuring the public is well aware of what he believes is his government’s strength.

And true to his conservative nature, Wall was selling to reporters Thursday” a comparatively strong year for the economy” in 2015 … a notion that’s growing a little more specious by the day.

Wall may have been tweeting out more favourable October/November job statistics on Thursday, but Friday’s year-end employment numbers painted a less-favourable picture. There were 900 fewer Saskatchewan people working in December than a year ago.

Admittedly, Saskatchewan’s overall 5.5-per-cent unemployment rate remained the lowest in the nation. And the province’s average 573,900 workforce last year was 2,800 higher than in 2014.

But 2,800 more working people amounts to less than .5 per cent yearly job growth. And while having the lowest employment rate in the country is always good, it’s less meaningful when we are again losing the out-migration battle to Alberta as young people leave in search of better-paying jobs. Year-end employment numbers also show 10,400 more Saskatchewan people looking for work than a year ago — not including those who have already left.

So for Wall to again be running on a strong economy is more than just counterintuitive — it defies current reality and may even be a bit politically dangerous if voters see it as nothing more than an attempt to deceive them.

That said, politics is often less about reality than it is about the alternative … in this case, the NDP Opposition, which remains the only other serious choice in voters’ minds.

This is where the decision by Wall and the Sask. Party to hammer home the economy message likely makes more sense. Or so suggests a Mainstreet/Postmedia poll that indicates the Sask. Party is at 59 per cent support among decided voters — a phenomenal 31-percentage-point lead over the NDP’s 28 per cent support.

Interestingly, it’s not even the poll’s horse race numbers that have the Sask. Party excited. The Jan. 4 survey of 1,508 Saskatchewan voters — a sampling with an accuracy of plus or minus 2.5 per cent, 19 times out of 20 — confirms the Sask. Party’s belief that it is still seen as the best choice when it comes to job creation.

Even with the 12-per-cent undecided included, the poll shows 51 per cent of respondents see a Sask. Party government as the best choice for creating jobs, compared with only 23 per cent who thought the NDP would be best. This is almost identical to overall preference numbers, which — when you include the 14 per cent undecided — show the Sask. Party at 51 per cent compared with 24-per-cent support for the NDP.

Perhaps more significantly, 48 per cent of those between 18 and 34 years old and 51 per cent of those between 35 and 49 years old — the bulk of working-age people and certainly the age groups most inclined to look for work elsewhere — say the Sask. Party would be the best choice to create jobs here.

Interestingly, this may not even be the best news for Sask. Party in this poll a mere three months before the vote.

Although Cam Broten’s NDP has clearly focused on health and seniors’ care, 44 per cent of those surveyed believed the Sask. Party would do a better job on these issues compared with 34 per cent who viewed the NDP as best. This includes 51 per cent of seniors who believe the Sask. Party is best.

On education, the Sask. Party bested the NDP 46 to 31 per cent. In fact, even 46 per cent of post-secondary 18-to-34-year-olds think the Sask. Party would do the best job. Amazingly, the Sask. Party is even ahead of the the NDP (44 to 27 per cent) on the environment.

That Broten’s NDP really don’t seem to stand for anything right now appears to be even better news for Wall and company.

But Sask. Party insiders recognize such traditional social issues are where the NDP is most likely to regain support. They also rightly believe most Saskatchewan elections are still fought on the economy.

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